Lady Orange: Synthetic turf too expensive for city's parks

City officials have determined that synthetic fields at the city's parks wouldn't be a good deal. FILE PHOTO: CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Q. When they built Grijalva Park, why didn’t they put in synthetic turf for the fields? I would imagine you break even on the price in 10 years. Most of the high schools are going that way because they realize it’s just a better way to go.

– Jim Harrison, Orange

A. The bottom line: too expensive.

Synthetic turf is expensive to install and then to replace, said city spokesman Paul Sitkoff.

“While I can understand looking at a synthetic school field such as Fred Kelly Stadium and thinking that our parks could also go that route, there are a number of factors that come into play,” he said in an email.

The turf would have a maximum lifespan of 15 years. And that timeframe quickly shrinks when footwear, food, drinks, gum, lawn furniture and tents make their way onto the field. Enclosed high schools have an easier time controlling those things than the city would, Sitkoff said.

“Some cities that have installed synthetic fields that are not controlled are not getting the longevity out of them that was planned,” he said.

None of the fields in Orange’s public parks has synthetic turf.

Q. I have a question about the Orange International Street Fair. Given that it’s grown into this enormous fair, are they going to expand the street area that it takes up? Lately, it’s been wall-to-wall with people.

– Tony Galindo, Orange

A. You might find yourself with some extra breathing room at this year’s street fair.

The street fair isn’t going to take up any more space in Old Towne, but there will be another area to walk around.

As previously reported in the Orange City News, a new contract was approved in March between the organizers and the City Council. As part of that, 50 feet of the 100 block of South Olive Street will be used as an ethnic street with a stage and food booths. The area previously was within the fair’s boundary, but did not have any activities.

To recap some other changes: Alcohol sales will be limited to beer and wine, but the number of alcohol booths will stay the same – 16. Picnic seating will be added to South Orange Street. And a 25-foot pedestrian buffer will be added in front of stages.

City officials have determined that synthetic fields at the city's parks wouldn't be a good deal. FILE PHOTO: CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Visitors may find it a bit easier to get around the International Street Fair this year. Organizers are spreading out the activities to allow for more breathing room. KEVIN LARA, STAFF FILE PHOTO

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